myHR: August 20, 2025

SEPTA Service Changes Alert

SEPTA has announced significant service cuts that will soon modify or eliminate many bus, metro, and regional rail routes. Please note key dates below.

• August 24, 2025: Reductions and elimination of many bus, metro, and regional rail services take effect.
• September 1, 2025: A 21.5% fare increase takes effect.
• January 2026: Additional reductions and elimination of service, including a 9 p.m. curfew for all metro and regional lines, take effect.

In response to the fare increase, the University announced an enhancement to its Commuter Benefits program, which offers benefits-eligible employees a discount of 50% on regional transit passes and a discount of 5% on contributions to the Health Equity Commuter Card. This enhancement increases the maximum benefit from $105 per month to $130 per month.

The changes effective at the start of the fall semester will have wide-ranging impacts across Penn, the city, and the region. Please review the information and guidance below to help you plan. For additional details, visit Penn’s new—and regularly updated— website dedicated to resources related to SEPTA’s changes or contact commuterservices@upenn.edu for support.

Understand If You’re Impacted

To see how the SEPTA changes may affect your travel, refer to SEPTA’s service cuts website, which includes an interactive map that lists adjustments to impacted routes.

Learn About Alternative Transportation Options

While Penn can’t replace lost transit options, here are some tips on navigating these changes.

• Plan alternative SEPTA routes via SEPTA’s trip-planning tool and schedules website. To view the service cut schedules on these sites, enter a date after the cuts go into effect (August 24 & 25 for bus/metro and September 2 for regional rail). If you’re using the SEPTA app, make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the app to view the updated schedules.
• Utilize campus parking options that accommodate a variety of schedules, including every day, as well as discounted business-hours permits for 12 parks per month, occasional, and carpool parking. Parking permit locations, availability, and rates can be found here.  
• Discuss carpooling or ride-sharing options with your colleagues or consider enrolling in a discounted Indego 365 bike-share membership.
• Explore Penn Transit’s bus and shuttle system, LUCY (Loop Around University City) buses, or Drexel University shuttles (free with PennCard).
• Stay informed of traffic, transit, and road-closure advisories by signing up for the Department of Public Safety’s notification system.

Communicate Early and Often

If you are concerned that changes to SEPTA service may affect your work schedule, please speak with your manager as soon as possible.

Managers are being asked to:

• Actively engage your teams to identify, address, and understand operational disruptions.
• Adapt in the early days as employees explore and adjust to their alternative commuting options.

Penn’s leadership is actively communicating with our elected officials, engaging the Philadelphia business community, and partnering with peer institutions to advocate for sustainable public transit funding.

Penn’s Annual Friends and Family Day October 4

On Saturday, October 4, the Division of Human Resources and Penn Athletics invite faculty, staff, postdocs, and friends to Penn’s Annual Friends and Family Day celebration. Treat yourself to a day of football, food, community, and fun! Tickets are available now through October 1.

“My kids look forward to joining me for this event every year. They love the Penn traditions, hearing the Penn Band, spending a fall day on our beautiful campus and connecting with my coworkers and Penn faculty and staff,” says Karen Kille, Manager, Quality of Work-Life Programs. 

The 2025 Friends and Family Day line-up of activities features a family-friendly Tailgate Party on Shoemaker Green, just outside of Franklin Field and the famous Palestra. During the party, your family and friends can enjoy lunch, games, a row of bounce houses, a DJ, and face painting. Special appearances include the Penn Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Division of Public Safety, Fire Safety and MERT, and Penn Vet Working Dog Center. 

After the Tailgate Party, the Penn vs. Dartmouth football game kicks off at 1 p.m. You can order up to four free tickets for the tailgate party and football game (additional tickets are $8 each). Your ticket includes lunch at the Tailgate party and admission to the football game. To order tickets, visit the  Penn Athletics ticket website.

The fun continues Sunday, October 5 with a special Friends and Family Day discount at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens.

Check out the full schedule of Penn Friends and Family Day activities for details, including free admission to soccer and volleyball matches, ice skating, and discount admission to Penn Live Arts shows. 

There’s something for everyone at this campus celebration!

Navigating Penn’s New Wellness Platform

Penn’s Be in the Know 2025-2026 annual wellness campaign year is well underway. Whether you have been engaged with Be in the Know since day one or just getting started, knowing how to navigate the new WebMD platform is key to helping you build your best self.

The first step is to register on the WebMD wellness platform. Through Penn’s Be in the Know and WebMD partnership, benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs can enjoy a fresh array of programs, tools, activities, and rewards to help build a blueprint for sustainable healthy habits, stronger connections, and feeling your best.

Once you log on to WebMD with your PennKey and Password, you will be prompted to answer a few questions to gauge your interests and the types of health-related issues and behaviors you would like to enhance. All this information will be used to help curate content specific to your needs and personalize your homepage on the portal.

Your Wellness Platform Experience

WebMD’s platform is filled with resources, activities, and content that is organized into three key sections under the “My Health” tab found at the top of your homepage. While these sections appear on each participant’s homepage, the content is customized to your interests.

Here are the sections you will find and tips on how to navigate them.

Dashboard that includes:

• Recommended resources. Based on the interests you identified when enrolling on the platform, you can access a variety of offerings to help set your health goals and track your progress. Simply scroll through the options and click on the content that interests you. Here you will be able to take the Health Assessment. If you completed this in the first few days of the campaign launch, you can retake it to recalculate risks related to safety issues.
• Rewards section. View your earned points and rewards on a user-friendly graphic. You can earn $50 for every 1,000 points completed, up to 6,000 points for $300 total this campaign year. Click on “Rewards” and scroll down to “Earn Points” for a list of all the rewarded Be in the Know activities. Click each reward section (Overall Health, Preventative Screenings and Exams, Penn Wellness Activities, Monthly Steps or Exercise, WebMD Health Coaching, WebMD Online Activities, and Rethink Care) for details. For example, under the category Overall Health, you can earn points for completing a Biometric Screening and the Health Assessment, plus learn the three options for screening credit this year.
• Daily Habits. Start a plan to build daily habits that will improve your health. The first step is to select 1-3 plans to achieve your goals. For example, if you would like to build an exercise plan, click on the Exercise tile. Click “Start This Plan”, then answer a series of personalized questions to build the plan. Once your plan is set up, click “View to-do Page” for a series of questions that will help keep you on track daily.
• Health Goals. Choose health goals that you would like to achieve and track each month. A separate tile will be created allowing you to quickly view the goals you are tracking. For example, if one of your health goals is to meet the 160,000 total steps monthly, you will be able to view and track a monthly breakdown of how many steps you are logging toward that goal.
• Take Action. This section displays important well-being activities such as Biometric Screening Options and RethinkCare video sessions and courses. With WebMD, Penn has access to RethinkCare’s full Personal Wellbeing and Professional Resilience collections for expert well-being support, on-demand courses, and robust content to help you succeed in all areas.  
• Discover. Includes customized content based on your interests, access to wellness articles, videos, and podcasts. Click on “Explore All Content” at the bottom of the section to view all of the resources available to you. ;
• Hamburger Menu. Look for the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen to search additional WebMD offerings, including Side Quests, Coaching, and the Community board.
• Penn Resources. Look for this tab, next to the “My Health” tab, to discover additional health and well-being resources offered by Penn.

As you explore the platform, don’t forget to download WebMD’s “Wellness At Your Side” app for wellness on the go.

1. Visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for Wellness At Your Side.
2. Download the app and enter your connection code: Penn
3. Register and personalize your experience by answering a few questions.

For iPhone users, to bypass a lengthy SSO login, set up Face ID under App Settings (hamburger menu, top right). If App Settings is not showing, redownload the app and ensure your phone allows Face ID to login. 

Take a WebMD Tour

Whether you want to create a daily habits plan, track your health and wellness goals, or simply find resources to help you thrive, this platform is your go-to destination. To get the most out of your experience, here are options to learn more:

View the WebMD Platform video. Watch this brief tutorial that walks you through the platform. You can also access the video in the “Take Action” section of the platform homepage. You will need to enter your name and email to watch the video.

Attend a live platform demo. WebMD will hold two virtual demos on August 21 and September 18. From logging in to utilizing all the valuable programs and resources on the platform, this demonstration will prepare you for a successful experience. You will be able to ask questions about Be in the Know and WebMD tools, resources, rewards, events, and more. Register today and get started on building your best self.

Earn Your Be in the Know Rewards

Earn points by completing wellness activities that matter the most to you – with no required “gateway” activity to start earning rewards*. For every 1,000 points you earn, you’ll receive a $50 cash incentive. It’s simple: Do what supports your health, track your progress, and get rewarded. For 2025-2026, you can earn a maximum of $300 by reaching 6,000 points – and keep going to reach 9,000 points for VIP status and special recognition!

In this campaign year, all Be in the Know rewards will be cash incentives added to paychecks (less applicable payroll taxes) and will be paid on a monthly basis starting  October 2025. Visit your WebMD Rewards page to learn about this year’s healthy activities and how to earn rewards.

This year’s Be in the Know campaign runs through June 30, 2026. For complete details, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

Changes to the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System

As part of a systems improvement effort, the University recently changed its mass notification system provider for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System.

UPennAlert enables the University to quickly notify the Penn and surrounding Philadelphia community of critical information during significant emergencies or dangerous situations involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus.

With the new system in place, you will still view and receive alerts in the same places – via SMS text on your cellphone, via your Penn email, and posted on the Division of Public Safety (DPS) website. The alert posts will have a different look, and the number from which you receive the UPennAlert has changed.

Keep Your UPennAlert Contact Information Up to Date

Now faculty, staff, temporary staff, and postdocs can maintain their UPennAlert contact information in their Workday profile. For detailed instructions, refer to the Add or Change UPennAlert Contact Information section of the Self Service: Modify Your Personal Information tip sheet.

Students will continue to maintain and update their UPennAlert contact information at Path at Penn. UPHS employees will continue to register and update their contact information through the UPHS Phone Book. 

The Division of Public Safety website offers details on the system changes. If you have questions or concerns, please contact DPS.

An Enhanced Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub

Get ready for a smoother, more streamlined Workday self-service experience. On September 20, Workday will unveil an updated Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub, allowing faculty, staff, postdocs, temporary, and student workers to more easily access information and manage self-service transactions. The update includes the following:

1. You can use the hub's Pay tab now to access the same information and tasks as the standalone, legacy Pay App. Workday will eliminate its standalone, legacy Pay App during its second major release of 2025 on September 20. (Additional details regarding the hub’s features are provided below.)
2. On September 20, the hub’s Pay tab will display any arrears balances that occur if a pay period’s net pay is insufficient to cover a deduction, such as benefits, commuter and parking, and union dues.
3. Also on September 20, the Compensation tab will provide an improved view of a worker’s total rewards.

The Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub is under the Personal category in Workday’s global apps menu. Faculty, staff, postdocs, temporary, and student workers have quick access to current and former payslips, tax records, and eligible benefits information and documentation. Workers can make updates to tax withholding elections, payment elections (direct deposit), benefits, and beneficiaries.

In the hub, Workday automatically hides financial values to provide data privacy of sensitive information. You can simply select the eye icon to reveal the information.

The hub consists of tabs you can find in the left navigation panel.

• The Overview tab provides access to tasks and reports such as withholding elections, payment elections, change benefits, and tax documents. It displays the most recent pay, deductions, and current benefits costs.
• The Benefits tab provides details on benefits such as the pay period’s cost of benefits, details on health care and accounts, other insurance coverages, as well as any additional benefits. Workers can find benefits by date, dependent and beneficiary information, and make changes as necessary.
• The Pay tab provides worker payment information, including payslips, access to compare periods, pay history, and earnings/deductions history. The “Model My Pay” helps workers see how making changes to deductions and tax elections may impact their “take-home” pay.
• The Compensation tab provides access to staff merit letters, total rewards, and compensation summaries.
• The Suggested Links tab consolidates access to important resources such as enrollment guides and key service providers who help manage worker benefits, compensation, and pay.

Step-by-step instructions for self-service access and transactions are available in the self-service category of Workday tip sheets. For additional assistance, please contact the Penn Employee Solution Center online or by calling 215-898-7372.

Learn to Project Credibility and Confidence

If you’re ready for the next step in your leadership journey, Penn’s Exuding Executive Presence workshops can elevate your impact and influence. This two-part course includes a classroom session on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a virtual group coaching session on October 23 from 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m. Exuding Executive Presence is open to staff members who have completed the AMP-UP course. You can request enrollment approval through Workday Learning.

Exuding Executive Presence is essential for those seeking to improve their ability to lead effectively. This interactive course helps you strengthen your communication skills, increase your confidence, build trust across teams, and shape organizational decisions.

Facilitator Jennifer L. Smith, CEO of Growth Potential Consulting and the Passionate Leader Institute, will work with participants to:

• Discuss Why Having an Executive Presence Is Important
• Learn the 4 Cs of Executive Presence
• Explore What Gets in the Way of Having an Executive Presence
• Develop an Action Plan for Success

By developing the skills and strategies, participants can build strong relationships, inspire others, influence higher-level decision-making, and project a powerful and lasting impression that commands respect and authority.

Please note that Exuding Executive Presence is a nomination-based program and your department will be charged for the cost. Employees may initiate a nomination request or be encouraged to do so by their manager via Workday. Managers are required to approve the request in Workday and provide the nominee’s budget string/code.

For more professional development opportunities, visit the Learn & Grow page.

Healthy Meals: Mediterranean Tuna Kebabs

This zesty kebab recipe from the American Heart Association is packed with flavor and protein. Stack tender tuna with fresh seasonal veggies for a light yet satisfying main dish. Serve with rice, couscous or your favorite whole grain bread. It's a great for outdoor grills, or use your oven on rain days!

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water
• Pinch of saffron (optional)
• 2/3 cup chopped Italian plum (Roma) tomatoes (about 2 small)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 small garlic clove1 pound tuna steaks, cut into 12 1-inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, cut into 12 1/2-inch wedges
• 1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, cut into 12 strips
• 1 medium zucchini, cut crosswise into 12 slices
• Cooking spray

Directions

1. Soak four 12-inch wooden skewers for at least 10 minutes in cold water to keep them from charring, or use metal skewers.
2. In a small glass bowl, whisk together the hot water and saffron. In a food processor or blender, process the saffron mixture, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, and garlic for 1 minute, or until smooth. Transfer 1/3 cup of the mixture to the bowl. Cover and refrigerate until 10 to 15 minutes before serving time.
3. For each kebab, thread each skewer with 3 tuna cubes, 3 onion wedges, 3 bell pepper strips, and 3 zucchini slices. Put the kebabs on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush all sides of the kebabs generously with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Lightly spray the grill rack with cooking spray. Preheat the grill on medium high.Meanwhile, remove the reserved saffron mixture from the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Lightly spray the kebabs with cooking spray. Grill the kebabs, covered, for about 4 minutes, or until the fish is the desired doneness and the vegetables are tender-crisp, turning frequently. Serve with the reserved saffron mixture.

Meet With a Registered Dietitian Today!

• One-on-one, virtual sessions you can schedule at any time that works for you
• 100% covered under many insurance plans
• Available to spouses and dependents
• Fill out the Ramp Health Nutrition Counseling Sign Up Form or call 800-484-7720.

Did You Know: Future Working Dogs Need Foster Homes

The Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC) seeks volunteer fosters to help raise and train future detection dogs, including Urban Search & Rescue Dogs and Law Enforcement Dogs. Fosters range from suburban singles to Philadelphia families with children. PVWDC provides all the food, crates, toys, and medical care the puppies need. To learn how you can foster a pup, please fill out the PVWDC Foster Family Survey or contact Foster Program Coordinator Sarah Gally at sgally@upenn.edu or 215-898-2200.